Freshly imported Honda SMX of baller awesomeness!
Discussion
So, there have been many attempts over the years at making an anti alcohol advertisement. As far as I can tell all have failed. Here's my go...
Late last year a few friends were deliberating over the idea of importing a car from Japan. The usual fluttery of subjects from the back catalogs of Gran Turismo were discussed, until they settled on an Evo and an R32 GTR. Keen to get in on the action I started browsing the auctions, naturally getting excited at the prospect of almost everything passing through. Several bids were placed on stuff including DC2's, AE86's and Mx5's, however nothing won, most not even close.
Then one typically cold Scottish evening one late October we were locked in the pub, the whole notion of the import idea fading away, the subject moved on to other things and the Belgian beers started flowing on into the night.
The Sunday morning brought with it the usual hangover associated with drinks such as Delerium, and I belatedly started to crawl out of bed for the impending days work. A quick glance at the iPad showed the usual drunken messages flicking up off the screen, however one stood out above the rest. Confirmation that overnight, I'd won a car at auction in Japan. And the following is what greeted me:
Once the laughing had stopped things turned more into fear, firstly what had I actually bought? How much money had I thrown away? And what the hell was I going to do with the thing?
The internet tells me it's a Honda SMX, a late 2001 model no less, with a 2 litre petrol mated to a 4 speed auto (with overdrive!!) It's black (obviously) with some sort of bodykit and terrible aftermarket grill.
Late last year a few friends were deliberating over the idea of importing a car from Japan. The usual fluttery of subjects from the back catalogs of Gran Turismo were discussed, until they settled on an Evo and an R32 GTR. Keen to get in on the action I started browsing the auctions, naturally getting excited at the prospect of almost everything passing through. Several bids were placed on stuff including DC2's, AE86's and Mx5's, however nothing won, most not even close.
Then one typically cold Scottish evening one late October we were locked in the pub, the whole notion of the import idea fading away, the subject moved on to other things and the Belgian beers started flowing on into the night.
The Sunday morning brought with it the usual hangover associated with drinks such as Delerium, and I belatedly started to crawl out of bed for the impending days work. A quick glance at the iPad showed the usual drunken messages flicking up off the screen, however one stood out above the rest. Confirmation that overnight, I'd won a car at auction in Japan. And the following is what greeted me:
Once the laughing had stopped things turned more into fear, firstly what had I actually bought? How much money had I thrown away? And what the hell was I going to do with the thing?
The internet tells me it's a Honda SMX, a late 2001 model no less, with a 2 litre petrol mated to a 4 speed auto (with overdrive!!) It's black (obviously) with some sort of bodykit and terrible aftermarket grill.
A few weeks then passed, and after plenty reading and research I started to grow to the idea of the little Honda. The rear seats neatly fold into a double bed meaning it could potentially be an ideal companion for my race car. Anyway, at this point a few more pictures arrived from the imported, notably including a massive dent on the passenger wing 
And that brings us to yesterday, where it was finally time to take the trip to South Shields and collect the thing. I've driven it about 15 miles to the MOT centre and confirm I'm absolutely delighted with it! It's living there for another week or 2 until it's registered then it's coming to it's new home in Edinburgh.
poing said:
Some kind stuff
Enjoyed reading that, there's no point being boring... we're only here once 
Accelerated said:
Kinda cool!
Can I just ask what sorts of fees are paid to bring it over? And also how easy / hard was the import process ?
I was lucky a good friend of mine has imported quite a few cars, as mentioned below taxes and shipping etc was considerably more than the cost of the car Can I just ask what sorts of fees are paid to bring it over? And also how easy / hard was the import process ?
There are plenty of import specialists around again depending on the type of thing you're after. For example I've seen quite a few of the MX5's Goodwood Sports Cars have imported and there's some stunning cars around for not much money.rossub said:
Oh dear god!
Cost of the car would have been bugger all, so the fees and shipping etc are probably about 4 X that
Look on the bright side - is there even another one in the UK? Unlikely!
There are a few but not many of the later RH2 facelift which mine is, most are late nineties models in the UK. It's only done 96k km as well so loads of life left in it, and it's mint underneath. Cost of the car would have been bugger all, so the fees and shipping etc are probably about 4 X that
Look on the bright side - is there even another one in the UK? Unlikely!
Edited by em177 on Saturday 23 January 13:13
rossub said:
Butter Face said:
rossub said:
Just checked 'How Many Left' and there appear to be no others in existence in the uk.
There's quite a few. There's an SMX forum and they have a stand at Japfest each year too..http://www.hondasmxclub.com/forums/
So I can happily confirm myself and the car made it!
It required a stop of on the way at a friends to top the fluids up (God knows last time they were checked), put some air in the tyres, filled the tank and off I went.
It didn't miss a beat, I'm delighted with how it drives. I've never had a more relaxing cruise up the A1, even if the jdm radio could only pick up Radio 2 it's now safely tucked up ready for a valet, dent removal, Polish and new grill before the DVLA sort me out a reg...
It required a stop of on the way at a friends to top the fluids up (God knows last time they were checked), put some air in the tyres, filled the tank and off I went.
It didn't miss a beat, I'm delighted with how it drives. I've never had a more relaxing cruise up the A1, even if the jdm radio could only pick up Radio 2
it's now safely tucked up ready for a valet, dent removal, Polish and new grill before the DVLA sort me out a reg...
So, oddly for me I managed to get out of bed early this morning in time to do a quick job on the car. From the pictures I got from Japan I knew the car had an aftermarket front grill (if anyone has any info on it, who makes it? Is it rare etc? then have a virtual pint on me! 
). I wasn't keen on it from the photos. I was browsing eBay one night a month or so back before the car even arrived and amazingly found an OEM grill in (sort of ) the right black just a few miles up the road. Fifteen quid later and it was mine. It took all of a matter of seconds to swap this morning, just 5 screws hold it in, made all the more enjoyable working on as new looking non rusty screws! Here's a before and after, problem is now I actually think I prefer the slatted one 
Thoughts?
). I wasn't keen on it from the photos. I was browsing eBay one night a month or so back before the car even arrived and amazingly found an OEM grill in (sort of ) the right black just a few miles up the road. Fifteen quid later and it was mine. It took all of a matter of seconds to swap this morning, just 5 screws hold it in, made all the more enjoyable working on as new looking non rusty screws! Here's a before and after, problem is now I actually think I prefer the slatted one Thoughts? 
ZesPak said:
Slated one looks great.
I love this sort of thing, virtual pint for the op!
I love this sort of thing, virtual pint for the op!
rossub said:
Yep - slatted one is much better.
That seems to be the general consensus among everyone, including myself so the slatted one will be going back on one the bumpers been tidied up. Anyone want a Black OEM grill?
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